In our time, the composer Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) from Halle is regarded as one of the most significant composers of the 17th century. Nevertheless, many of his works are less well known at present than those of his famous contemporaries Johann Hermann Schein and Heinrich Schütz - quite unjustly so, as is demonstrated by this recording featuring the Athesinus Consort Berlin directed by Klaus-Martin Bresgott. The numerous motets from Scheidt's collection "Cantiones Sacrae" - many of which are here recorded for the first time - are complemented by the contemporary composition "Die Stimme meines Freundes" [The voice of my friend], a motet on texts from the Song of Songs and the Proverbs of Solomon by Frank Schwemmer (*1961).
